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Catcher Processor/Direct Marketer Guide

eLandings User Manual

Catcher Processor/Direct Marketer Guide

Permitting

Fisheries Business License aka Proc Code

ADF&G Processor Code or Intent to Operate License - Click the link below to apply for your fisheries business license with the Department of Revenue. If you have questions about which license type you want to apply for, see the “Allowable Activities” or contact the Fish Excise Group at 907-269-6620 with the Alaska Department of Revenue.

https://online-tax.alaska.gov/ATP/WebDoc/_/#0

 

Allowable Activities

The allowable activities matrix will help you determine what Processor Code type you need.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishlicense.allowableactivities_fbl

Who Can Export Out of State?

Federal Processor Permit (FPP)

What is processing?

Processing, or to process, means the preparation of, or to prepare, fish or crab to render it suitable for human consumption, industrial uses, or long-term storage, including but not limited to cooking, canning, smoking, salting, drying, freezing, or rendering into meal or oil, but does not mean icing, bleeding, heading, or gutting.

 

If any of these activities apply to you will want to apply for the Federal Processor Permit. 

 

A FPP permit is required for stationary floating processors (processing vessels that operate solely within Alaska State waters). The permit also is required for shoreside processors that receive and/or process groundfish harvested from Federal waters (or from any Federally-permitted vessels). FPPs are non-transferable, one year permits, issued to owners on request and without charge. 

 

Federal Fisheries Permit (FFP)

Federal Fisheries Permit (FFP) – required if fishing in the EEZ and retaining groundfish bycatch. Not required if you are fishing in State waters only (within 3 nautical miles of shore). You can renew your FFP in eFish for follow the link to get a printable permit to mail or fax in to NOAA: 

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/permit/alaska-federal-fisheries-permit-and-federal-processor-permit-applications

 

Registered Buyer Permit (RB)

Registered Buyer permit allows you to receive and make your own IFQ landing. Applications may be submitted online through your eFISH account here: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login     See copy of the application at the end of the document. This is required if you are going to be receiving or selling IFQ species.

 

 

Record Keeping and Reporting

 


 

Where are you offloading?

A NMFS approved scale is required at the location of offload.  https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-50/section-679.28#p-679.28(b)

 

Reporting in eFISH

If you are intending on only having a few landings per year, three or less, then you can choose to report via eFISH and do not need to register for eLandings. 

You will need to use a combination of paper fish tickets and eFISH. If you do not already have access to eFISH, please contact RAM at either RAM.Alaska@noaa.gov or 1-800-304-4846 option 2.

https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/webapps/efish/login

 

Registering for eLandings

Once you have received all your permits,  proceed to elandings to register for your operation. You will want to bookmark this link for future reference. https://elandings.alaska.gov/web/

Click on the blue “Register” link below the “Show Password” checkbox. 

eLandings Operation Types

  • Plant Receiver

  • At-Sea Processor

  • Catcher Seller

  • Buyer-Exporter

Enter the following information:

  • Operation Type: Select the operation type that applies to you

  • Operation Name: name of your business, we often see the vessel name here

  • ADFG Proc Code: issued by the Dept. of Revenue, example: F1234

  • Federal Permit Number: if you fish outside 3NM and retain groundfish this is required

  • Registered Buyer Number: apply via eFISH for this permit, needed for IFQ sales

  • Registered Crab Receiver: not required unless you are receiving or selling IFQ crab                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

  • Port: select the port of landing from the drop down list of ports

  • Vessel ADF&G: Your vessel number

  • Vehicle License Number: not required

  • UserID: write this down since it will be the username you use to log into eLandings.

  • Password: retain your password - it is case sensitive, must be at least 8 characters long

  • Confirm Password: re-enter the password

  • Company Name: this should be your first and last name or the name of your business

  • City: the city where you are located

  • State: Alaska

  • Telephone Number: best contact number

  • Fax Number: not required

  • Email Address: valid email to receive correspondence from eLandings

  • Security Question: create a question you know the answer to

  • Secret Answer: answer to your security question

  •  Check for any spelling errors and click Register.

Congratulations you have created your eLandings account!

Please print, sign and submit a copy of your Authorizations Agreement to elandings@alaska.gov so your operation can be enabled.

Once your operation is enabled you will receive a confirmation email and be able to login and create landing reports.

 

Processing on your vessel

IPHC regulations require that any halibut filets  must be off the vessel by 1800 local time on the calendar day following the offload. 

 

(2) No person shall possess on board a vessel a Pacific halibut other than whole or with gills and entrails removed, except that this paragraph shall not prohibit the possession on board a vessel of: (a) Pacific halibut cheeks cut from Pacific halibut caught by persons authorized to process the Pacific halibut on board in accordance with NOAA Fisheries regulations published at 50 CFR Part 679; (b) filets from Pacific halibut offloaded in accordance with this Section that are possessed on board the harvesting vessel in the port of landing up to 1800 local time on the calendar day following the offload4 ; and (c) Pacific halibut with their heads removed in accordance with Section 18.

 

DEC -Thinking of storing, cleaning, packaging, processing or distributing seafood products?

If so, contact your local DEC office to ensure compliance with safe food handling practices. 

The resources below will help you get started.

https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishlicense.processing

https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/fss/seafood/

 

Prior Notice of Landing (PNOL)

A Prior Notice of Landing must be called into the NOAA Data Tech office for each offload of halibut. They can be reached at 1-800-304-4846 option #1 from 0600-midnight, seven days a week.

Your PNOL must be scheduled at least three hours in advance. 

More details can be found at 50 CFR 679.5(l)(1)

 

Resources

Federal Regulations- The 679.5 recordkeeping and reporting regulations are located here: https://alaskafisheries.noaa.gov/fisheries-679regs . Read section E (eLandings), and section L (IFQ Landings.)

IPHC Regulations https://www.iphc.int/2023/10/18/international-pacific-halibut-commission-fishery-regulations-2023/

State Regulations https://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fishregulations.Commercial

Enforcement - Alaska Enforcement

Data Techs - 1-800-304-4846 Option #1

eLandings Support mailto:elandings@alaska.gov

eLandings Wiki Documentation

For information on how to use eLandings to report your landings, please visit this page: eLandings User Documentation

 

Training site and scenarios

We have an eLandings training environment where you can practice creating "fake" reports for a variety of different report types. This is a good place to get familiar with the reporting process. We highly recommend everyone try it. Those instructions are located here:

eLandings Training scenarios

Dockside Sales

(A) A person holding a valid IFQ permit, or IFQ hired master permit, and a Registered Buyer permit may conduct a dockside sale of IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish with a person who has not been issued a Registered Buyer permit after all IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish have been landed and reported in accordance with paragraph (l) of this section.

(B) A person holding a valid halibut CDQ hired master permit and Registered Buyer permit may conduct a dockside sale of CDQ halibut with a person who has not been issued a Registered Buyer permit after all CDQ halibut have been landed and reported in accordance with paragraph (l) of this section.

(C) A Registered Buyer conducting dockside sales must issue a receipt to each individual receiving IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish in lieu of a PTR. This receipt must include:

(1) Date of sale;

(2) Registered Buyer permit number;

(3) Weight by product of the IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish transferred.

(D) A Registered Buyer must maintain a copy of each dockside sales receipt as described in paragraph (l) of this section.

 

Moving the Fish

TRANSFER DIRECTLY FROM THE LANDING SITE TO A PROCESSING FACILITY (CDQ HALIBUT, IFQ HALIBUT, IFQ SABLEFISH, OR CR CRAB ONLY). 

A Product Transfer Report (PTR) is not required for transportation of unprocessed IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish directly from the landing site to a facility for processing, provided the following conditions are met:

  • A copy of the IFQ landing report receipt (Internet receipt) documenting the IFQ landing accompanies the offloaded IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CDQ halibut while in transit.

  • A copy of the IFQ landing report receipt is available for inspection by an authorized officer.

  • The Registered Buyer submitting the IFQ landing report completes a PTR for each shipment from the processing facility.

 

Product Transfer Reports

The operator or manager must record on a PTR those species that are listed in Tables 2a and 2c to this part when those species are transferred out of the facility or off the vessel and may also record species listed in Table 2d to this part.

A Registered Buyer must submit a separate PTR for each shipment of halibut or sablefish for which the Registered Buyer submitted an IFQ landing report or was required to submit an IFQ landing report

IFQ Halibut, IFQ Sablefish, and CDQ Halibut:

Except as noted below, a Registered Buyer must submit a separate PTR for each shipment of halibut or sablefish for which the Registered Buyer submitted an IFQ 

landing report or was required to submit an IFQ landing report. A PTR is not required to accompany a shipment.

 

Product Transfer Report Exceptions

(2) Exceptions

(i) Bait sales (non-IFQ groundfish only). During one calendar day, the operator or manager may aggregate and record on one PTR the individual sales or shipments of non-IFQ groundfish to vessels for bait purposes during the day recording the amount of such bait product shipped from a vessel or facility that day.

(ii) Retail sales

(A) IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, and non-IFQ groundfish. During one calendar day, the operator, manager, or Registered Buyer may aggregate and record on one PTR the amount of transferred retail product of IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, and non-IFQ groundfish if each sale weighs less than 10 lb or 4.5 kg.

(B) CR crab. During one calendar day, the RCR may aggregate and record on one PTR the amount of transferred retail product of CR crab if each sale weighs less than 100 lb or 45 kg.

(iii) Wholesale sales (non-IFQ groundfish only). The operator or manager may aggregate and record on one PTR, wholesale sales of non-IFQ groundfish by species when recording the amount of such wholesale species leaving a vessel or facility in one calendar day, if invoices detailing destinations for all of the product are available for inspection by an authorized officer.

(iv) Dockside sales.

(A) A person holding a valid IFQ permit, or IFQ hired master permit, and a Registered Buyer permit may conduct a dockside sale of IFQ halibut or IFQ sablefish with a person who has not been issued a Registered Buyer permit after all IFQ halibut and IFQ sablefish have been landed and reported in accordance with paragraph (l) of this section.

(B) A person holding a valid halibut CDQ hired master permit and Registered Buyer permit may conduct a dockside sale of CDQ halibut with a person who has not been issued a Registered Buyer permit after all CDQ halibut have been landed and reported in accordance with paragraph (l) of this section.

(C) A Registered Buyer conducting dockside sales must issue a receipt to each individual receiving IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut, or IFQ sablefish in lieu of a PTR. This receipt must include:

(1) Date of sale;

(2) Registered Buyer permit number;

(3) Weight by product of the IFQ halibut, CDQ halibut or IFQ sablefish transferred.

(D) A Registered Buyer must maintain a copy of each dockside sales receipt as described in paragraph (l) of this section.

(v) Transfer directly from the landing site to a processing facility (CDQ halibut, IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, or CR crab only). A PTR is not required for transportation of unprocessed IFQ halibut, IFQ sablefish, CDQ halibut, or CR crab directly from the landing site to a facility for processing, provided the following conditions are met:

 

Product Transfer Reports Time Limits

The operator of a mothership or catcher/processor, the manager of a shoreside processor or SFP, the Registered Buyer, or RCR must:

  • (i) Record all product transfer information on a PTR within 2 hours of the completion of the shipment.

  • (ii) Submit a PTR by facsimile or electronic file to OLE, Juneau, AK (907–586–7313), by 1200 hours, A.l.t., on the Tuesday following the end of the applicable weekly reporting period in which the shipment occurred.

  • (iii) If any information on the original PTR changes prior to the first destination of the shipment, submit a revised PTR by facsimile or electronic file to OLE, Juneau, AK (907–586–7313), by 1200 hours, A.l.t., on the Tuesday following the end of the applicable weekly reporting period in which the change occurred.

 

Custom Processing Operations

This is a special operation type that involves an "owner" of fish in conjunction with a fish "processor". This type of operation must be set up in eLandings by the "owner" of the fish and requires permits from both operations involved. 

 

Custom Processing

The manager of a shoreside processor or SFP or the operator of a mothership must record products that result from custom processing for another person in eLandings consistently throughout a fishing year using one of the following two methods:

(i) Combined records. Record landings, discards or dispositions, and products of custom-processed groundfish routinely in eLandings using processor name, FFP or FPP number, and ADF&G processor code; or

(ii) Separate records. Record landings, discards or dispositions, and products of custom-processed groundfish in eLandings identified by the name, FPP number or FFP number, and ADF&G processor code of the associated business entity.

 

Business Arrangements

We recommend that you have your custom processing business arrangements clearly defined and documented specifically who is responsible for what fees including observer fees and cost recovery fees and any applicable taxes. 

 

Offload Reporting When Some Fish is Retained or Sold at Another Location

The manager of a shoreside processor or SFP or the operator of a mothership must record products that result from custom processing for another person in eLandings consistently throughout a fishing year using one of the following two methods:

  • (i) Combined records. Record landings, discards or dispositions, and products of custom-processed groundfish routinely in eLandings using processor name, FFP or FPP number, and ADF&G processor code; or

  • (ii) Separate records. Record landings, discards or dispositions, and products of custom-processed groundfish in eLandings identified by the name, FPP number or FFP number, and ADF&G processor code of the associated business entity.

Retaining for Future Sale -IFQ Species Only 

Code 87 should only be used if the fisher is taking the catch back onboard the vessel to sell at a later time. Documentation of retained for future sale indicates that a purchase has not occurred at the point of initial offload. The future sale may be via a dockside sale or to another processor. When the retained fish is finally sold, a second fish ticket/landing report must be completed.

Retaining for Personal Use

Code 95 (retained for personal use) should be used if the fisher is retaining some of the catch for personal use and consumption. The product weight and delivery condition code at the point of offload/weighing should be recorded.

Retaining for Bait

Code 92 (Retained for bait-not sold):  should only be used if the fisherman is retainin